First cured coronavirus patient in BiH tells VOA: This is a fight for all of us

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The first person cured of coronavirus in BiH spoke to Voice of America about their traumatic experience. 

The first case of coronavirus was recorded in Banja Luka at the beginning of March, and after two weeks it was confirmed that the epicenter of the virus spread, the so-called zero cluster, was extinguished, and the first infected patient was cured.

In an interview with Voice of America, he explains how the notorious virus arrived in Republika Srpska.

He says that at the end of February, when he arrived in Banja Luka from Italy, he could not have imagined such a development of the situation.

“When I came from Italy, the situation was nowhere near as dramatic as it is now. There was talk of the virus spreading, but we all traveled normally and went to work. No one could have predicted that this would happen,” says this resident of Banja Luka, who did not want his name and surname to be mentioned.

He points out that the symptoms were almost negligible; for one day he had a slightly elevated temperature and nothing else.

He advises citizens to adhere to the measures and recommendations of competent epidemiologists, all healthcare workers, and other competent authorities. As he says, he is primarily grateful to the doctors and medical staff who were up to the task from the very beginning.

"I didn't have any therapy because I didn't have serious symptoms. Just some paracetamol. I was in the hospital for eight days in complete isolation and 10 days in home isolation. I was released for home isolation when, after two positive tests, the third test was negative," says the first coronavirus patient in BiH to Voice of America.

“Although it was difficult to be the first, I honestly and conscientiously reported and did what was up to me, and the fact that the zero cluster (epicenter) is closed confirms that. Stay at home, save yourself and others, and respect everything that the competent authorities tell you, they know what they are doing,” emphasizes the Voice of America interviewee, who has been working in Italy for almost 20 years, and is now in daily telephone contact with friends who live there.

“The situation there is dramatic, and I hope that won't happen here. I believe in our healthcare system and that we have professional, capable, and responsible people, but we must help them and do what is up to us; this is a fight for all of us, and it is necessary for everyone to contribute,” says the first cured patient in BiH of coronavirus.

Just two weeks after the first case appeared in Banja Luka, another 90 people have been infected with coronavirus in BiH.